Michigan Compiled Laws, Chapter 324. Natural Resources and Environmental Protection § 324.32801

(a) “Annex 2001” means the Great Lakes charter annex signed by the governors and premiers of the Great Lakes region on June 18, 2001.

(b) “Aquifer” means any water bearing bed or stratum of earth or rock capable of yielding groundwater to a water well in sufficient quantities that can be withdrawn.

(c) “Assessment tool” means the water withdrawal assessment tool provided for in part 327.  1

(d) “Base flow” means groundwater discharge to rivers and streams.

(e) “Conflict areas” means an aquifer or a portion of an aquifer in which the department has determined that there is reasonable, scientifically based evidence of a pattern of groundwater withdrawal conflicts or a single extended groundwater withdrawal conflict.

(f) “Council” means the water use advisory council created under section 32803.  2

(g) “Department” means the department of environmental quality.

(h) “Director” means the director of the department.

(i) “Groundwater” means water below the land surface in a zone of saturation.

(j) “Groundwater withdrawal conflict” means the failure of an existing water well that was constructed in compliance with part 127 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.12701 to 333.12771, to furnish its normal supply of groundwater because of a progressive decline of the static water level within the aquifer due to the withdrawal of groundwater from the aquifer by a high-capacity well or sump, as determined based on reasonable, scientifically based evidence.

(k) “Static water level” means the distance between the ground surface and the water level within a well that is not being pumped.